Shunted(?) to the Team Nurse - Is this common practice?

Personally, I wouldn't worry. During my 3½ months in hospital after diagnosis and surgery, the nurses were a lot more help than the doctors most of the time (except for sudden crises), and head nurses were almost like gods in their authority and experience — you'll probably be better off with a head nurse than with a new resident (just like in the military you're safer with an experienced sergeant than a wet-behind-the-ears 2Lt. 🙂)

In your case, perhaps they've decided that you're stable and low-risk for now, which would be great news (if my guess is correct). If the nurse spots anything of concern, they'll certainly escalate to a specialist.

Again, anybody, is this common practice (as a genitourinary oncology outpatient)?

I cannot speak if common practice only my experience. I had my procedure done at UFPTI. My once a week during treatments was with team nurse then my radiologist/oncologist M.D. This was done for 7 weeks. My appointments showed nurse first then M.D.

During after monitoring this was same. I see the team nurse then the radiologist/oncologist. It was a team so consultations, treatments and follow up you are assigned the same nurse and radiologist/oncologist. That is my experience that I had and are both.

Yes this is common practice at Mayo. I was told first day that the nurses and PAs were respected as equal players with responsibility and authority. The nurses do procedures and stuff at Mayo that only doctors do elsewhere. Mayo is one of the best places anywhere for nurses to work. Maybe that is why Mayo is so much better than everywhere else. That being said there are also insurance protocols for doctor visits.... like while having radiation, you need to check in with an MD once a week. I expect they are following the insurance requirements and that lightens up on Doctor visits after 3 months. You can ask about this on your portal. They answer emails.

I think you should be in good shape with that kind of health team contact. At least in the short run. If any concerns show up then the MD should be involved, or course.
My experience is, I think, exceptional. My PC was not so large but aggressive and escaped the capsule. One small spot showed up on a rib in an early scan.
My RARP followed by ADT using Lupron every 3 months is getting close to finishing a 24-month cycle.
This is all pretty standard but my MD in incredibly caring, thoughtful, patient, and thorough in our meetings. Even though mine is probably a very standard progression which he's repeated many times. He treats me like this is his first time as well.
Now, I usually see the NP first. She is most approachable and thorough as well. Then the Doc comes in and pretty much reviews everything and asks and probes for questions. Finally the nurse gives me the shot/s and I'm off and running.
I think I'm getting exceptional treatment so you gave me a chance to brag and maybe encourage you to engage your care team a bit more assertively if you do feel 'shunted'. My vote is to always feel like you're their only patient or at least very valued.
All the best for your successful battle against a nasty disease to get great quality of life.
bob

I maybe lucky but I have pcp at mayo. Urology at 2 different clinics. RO at mayo. Many other docs. With EPIC everybody sees what happens. No real need to see surgeon or head doc. PA,s and NP,s run the world. They see the day to day activity of many patients. They have taken care of me for years. Not much need to see doc when others can help me. If in doubt I contact PCP and they will help with who to see.

Yeah, jc67 and grandpun, that seems reasonable to me: the nurse does sort of the preliminary work, and then the M.D. follows up. My situation, though, has me scheduled to be seeing only the nurse (a C.R.N.P.) once in between 6 weeks of appointments with the medical oncologist (an M.D.). As northoftheborder suggested, "...perhaps they've decided that you're stable and low-risk for now (and so don't need the doctor)." But if that's the case, I wish the physician had told me that; I feel I'm being assigned to the nurse for perhaps less standard-of-care reasons.

But since all of you, including budisnothome, now have responded positively to the situation, I'll plan to meet with the nurse to see how it goes. (I should note that my one previous interaction with this particular nurse was not encouraging, but maybe we were both just having a bad day.)

Thanks to all.

A nurse always draws my blood and the follow up to that is initially with a nurse followed by my oncologist.

Just don't lump it, (if you can). I ensure I consult directly with my doctor, not the junior team of doctors working with them, and certainly not just the nurse.

At the Cancer Centre in my city (in Canada), I always see all three. First the oncology nurse who calls me in from the waiting room will have a quick chat. Then after a few minutes, a more-junior oncologist will come and have a longer talk with me (that's a good time for me to ask my "dumb" questions about less-important stuff). Typically, I'll wait another 10–15 minutes while the junior oncologist briefs the team lead oncologist, then they both come in and go over everything with me.

It seems like a good system, and I can also read their notes online after the appointment, which is quite helpful.